Icebreaker Aurora Australis

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The sea ice around Australia's Mawson station break ups for just a few weeks in the summer of each year. This is the only time the harbour is accessible to conventional ships, allowing them to unload essential supplies of fuel and heavy cargo.

The Aurora Australis was custom-built to extend this all too-short Antarctic supply season. It was designed as an icebreaker with the ability to cut through ice up to 1.2 metres thick, enabling it to get through to Australia's bases earlier in the summer and depart from them later in the season.

In the summer of 1990 ABC-TV's Quantum program sent reporter Megan James on the Aurora Australis' second voyage to Antarctica. She captured some spectacular footage as the ship tested its icebreaking capabilities…..

2015 Update

The Aurora Australis is still in service with the Australian Antarctic Division. (It assisted in the medical evacuation of a seriously ill expeditioner from Australia's Davis station as recently as mid-March 2015). However, after 25 seasons of support for the Australian Antarctic program, plans are in place for a new vessel to replace her. Her replacement will have greater scientific and cargo capabilities, and will be capable of breaking through 1.65 metre ice at a speed of three knots.